Genetic Counseling Training Program: Important Application Information
Important Dates
- Application Open Dates: September 1, 2022
- Application Deadline: December 16, 2022, to be considered eligible for Fall 2023 admission
- Transcripts: Official transcripts (electronic preferred) for past semesters/degrees must be received by the application deadline. For the current semester, at minimum, unofficial transcripts must be received by 1/6/23. Official transcripts are required by 1/24/23 to be eligible for an interview offer.
- Application Fee: $75 – The fee must be paid by credit card when you submit your application by the deadline of December 16, 2022, to be considered for an interview.
Do I have to participate in NMS Match?
Yes. All applicants must first register for the Match with NMS before applying to participating genetic counseling graduate programs.
When is the application deadline?
To be considered for an interview, prospective students must meet all admissions requirements and complete all required application components. The deadline for submitting an application for 2023 entry is December 16, 2022.
Prospective students will be informed when their application packet is complete, and notification of applicant selection for the interview process will occur by January 31, 2023.
What is the minimum required GPA?
A GPA of 3.0 or greater (on a 4.0 scale) is required. Exceptions will be made on a case-by-case basis under specific circumstances.
If you have more than one college degree (Bachelor's or beyond), we will take the highest GPA obtained.
If I have applied in the past, am I required to start a new application?
Yes, you must create a new application, provide a new narrative and submit at least 2 new letters of recommendation. If we have your official transcripts and GRE’s on file, you do not need to have them resent.
Will Canadian applicants need to also submit an official credential evaluating report?
No. Canadian applicants do not need to submit an official credentialing report unless their transcripts are not available in English.
What degree do graduates earn?
Our graduates receive a Master of Medical Science (MMSc) degree in Human Genetics and Genetic Counseling from the Emory University School of Medicine and are qualified to sit for the American Board of Genetic Counseling (ABGC) certification examination.
Is the program full-time or part-time?
The Emory Genetics Counseling Training Program is a full-time program and consists of a minimum of 76 credit hours taken over 21 months. Students start in the fall semester of the first year, attend through the summer semester between the first and second year, and typically complete the program at the end of the spring semester of the second year. Requests for part-time attendance will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
What is the application fee and how do I pay it?
There is a $75.00 non-refundable application fee payable only by credit card. The payment link is in the online application and must be received by the deadline of December 16, 2022.
What if I have not completed the prerequisite courses prior to the application deadline?
Genetics must be completed no later than the fall semester of the year of application. One other prerequisite can be taken the following spring, but applicants will be required to demonstrate proof of enrollment and satisfactory progress to be considered for admission.
Do I have to have a science background to enter the program?
No. All students must have successfully completed the prerequisite coursework to enter the program, but many successful applicants have undergraduate degrees in other disciplines such as psychology, social work, public health or education.
Will I need to submit all transcripts?
Yes, we will require official transcripts from all higher institutions attended, even if you only took one class.
Do you allow electronic transcripts?
Yes (preferred). Higher learning institutions may send the transcript by secure email.
What address should official transcripts be mailed to?
Genetic Counseling Training Program
Emory University School of Medicine
Mail stop: 1370-003-1AE
1462 Clifton Road, Suite 310
Atlanta, GA 30322
Will you allow unofficial transcripts with my online application?
Yes. During the application period, you may upload unofficial copies of your transcripts. However, we must receive official copies of your transcripts by 1/21/22 before you will be considered for an interview.
Would it be possible to submit my application and then send an updated official transcript once the grades have been added for the current semester?
Yes. If you are matriculating in the fall of the application year, unofficial transcripts will be accepted for that semester until the official transcripts are received. Official transcripts are required by 1/24/21 to be eligible for an interview offer. If you are taking a spring course that is a prerequisite, you will be required to demonstrate proof of enrollment and satisfactory progress to be considered for admission.
International Students
International students are welcome to apply to the Emory Genetic Counseling Training Program. Applicants who attended undergraduate or prior graduate programs outside of the United States must submit an official Credentialing Evaluation report from each institution attended.
The TOEFL or IELTS (or equivalent) is also required - specify Code No. 5187, Emory University, Allied Health Programs.
Please visit International Student Information for more information about attending Emory as an international student.
Are TOEFL or IELTS scores required of International applicants who have attended college or university in the United States or other English speaking countries?
If you have completed a four-year undergraduate degree or a graduate degree in an English-speaking county, TOEFL or IETFL scores are not required but are preferred.
Do you have any scholarships available?
Scholarships that are available for incoming students include
- $5,000 Paul M. Fernhoff Genetic Counseling Training Program Scholarship - one-time, merit-based, application required
- $5,000 Emory Department of Human Genetics Needs-based Scholarship - one-time, application required
- $5,000 one-time diversity scholarship
- $2000 one-time merit-based scholarship
- $2000 one-time under-represented student scholarship
In addition, each student receives a minimum of $4,000 stipend per year with their Focus Internship.
There are various other scholarships and loans awarded through the Office of Financial Aid for graduate students in allied health. Please refer to the Emory Office of Financial Aid.
The Emory Genetic Counseling Program also provides funding for all 2nd-year students to attend the National Society of Genetic Counselors Annual Education Conference.
What financial support is there for international students and what is the difference in tuition fees?
There is no additional financial assistance for International Students. You must be a U.S. citizen to qualify for federal financial aid.
Is there a difference between in and out of state tuition the same for all students?
Since we are a private school, there is no in-state and out-of-state tuition. The tuition is the same for all students.
Will you accept high school advanced placement (AP) credits for the prerequisite courses?
We do not accept AP credits for the prerequisite courses. If an AP credit allowed you to skip to a higher-level versus a basic course in college, those course credits are acceptable.
Do I need to take all the prerequisite classes at a four-year college or university versus a community college?
Our prerequisite requirements are intended to ensure our students are well prepared for the rigorous science curriculum of our program. The best-prepared students will have taken the science prerequisites at the highest possible level. Sciences classes at a four-year university that are intended for science majors offer the best opportunity for students to be prepared for graduate-level work. That being said, we will accept community college classes for the psychology and biostatistics pre-requisites. However, taking similar upper-level courses is suggested.
Are online courses permitted as prerequisites?
Yes, but they must be taken for credit at an accredited school of higher education, and a course syllabus must be pre-approved.
Can prerequisite courses be taken pass/fail?
No, letter grades are required for all prerequisite courses. However, we will make an exception for courses changed to P/F in 2020-21 due to the COVID pandemic.
Is a lab component required for all undergraduate science courses?
Some laboratory educational experience is expected of all applicants. However, a lab component does not need to be taken with every science course.
How can I arrange to shadow a genetic counselor or meet with a genetic counselor to get more information?
Search for genetic counselors by specialty and location. The listings will indicate if student contact is welcome.
Can I make an appointment to talk to or meet with one of the program directors?
Yes, we welcome prospective student contact. Contact MarieAnge Charlestin to arrange an appointment.
Can I contact graduates or students who are currently in the program to inquire about the program?
Yes, please visit the students & alumni page of the website for a listing of our past and present students and their contact information.
How may I check the status of my application?
Please allow our office 2 to 3 weeks to receive and process all your application materials. Once your application materials are processed, we will contact you if we are missing any of your required items or documents. If you submit your application on or around December 17, we will contact you by January 17.
If my recommenders are having problems accessing the link or have misplaced the email to fill out their recommendations, what should I do?
In most cases, you’re able to send a reminder. To do this, log back into the Application, click on the Recommenders section, then from there click the “Notify” button again to send (or resend) the email to the recommender.
This email contains the link as well as the Recommender’s unique login information.
Because it’s a system-generated email they may need to check their junk/spam folder to see if it was sent there.
Recommenders may also email recommendations to:
Mail
Emory Genetic Counseling Training Program
1462 Clifton Rd., MS 1370-003-1AE
Atlanta, GA 30322
Who do I contact if I have questions about the Emory Genetic Counseling Training Program?
MarieAnge Charlestin, Program Coordinator
404-727-2931
Email